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Mountain Brome

Common Name(s):

Mountain Brome

Scientific Name:

Bromus marginatus Nees ex Steud.

Scientific Name Synonyms:

Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn.

Symbol:

BRMA

Description:

Life Span: Perennial

Origin: Native

Season: Cool

Growth Characteristics: An erect, rather short-lived bunchgrass, growing up to 3 feet high, without rhizomes.
It starts growth in early spring, and seeds mature by August. It reproduces from seeds
and tillers. Seedlings are very vigorous. Plants have a relatively short lifespan
(4-5 years).

Ecological Adaptions:

Mountain brome is a valuable native grass of nearly all of the mountainous area of
Utah at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 13,000 feet. Topographic features where it
grows include bottomland, mountain slopes, valleys, and ridge tops.

Soils: It grows well in a wide variety of soils including poorly drained types. It is most
abundant in moderately moist, well-developed, deep, medium-textured soils.

Uses and Management:

Mountain brome is an excellent grazing plant for cattle, horses, elk, and fairly good
forage for sheep and deer. The large seeds are eaten by many small mammals, especially
rodents, and also by birds. Forage becomes harsh and fibrous at maturity.

Since it is fairly sensitive to grazing by the larger animals, it requires careful
management. Reducing the grazing pressure when it is in the reproductive stages, or
limiting the use to about 50 percent of the total annual growth, gives good results
and response by this plant, and will help to maintain this plant.

Mountain brome has been seeded for range revegetation and erosion control. It is effective
in improving water infiltration. Being a short-lived perennial, it may not persist
in seedings.